There are 219 Connecticut residency programs, according to the American Medical Association (AMA), including positions at some of the best hospitals in the country. But even as the US faces an ongoing physician shortage, earning a medical residency in Connecticut is no sure bet.
Data from the National Resident Matching Program shows that in 2021, there were a record-setting 42,508 applicants for just 35,194 residency positions nationwide, suggesting fierce competition. Still, in an age of online applications and digital tours, the residency interview offers a silver lining. While residency interview questions are a valuable tool for program directors to assess a candidate, they’re also your opportunity to stand out from the applicant stack.
Our Top 10 Connecticut Residency Interview Questions:
To give you an extra edge, we’ve compiled common residency interview questions you can prepare to navigate this new chapter with confidence.
1. Tell Me About Yourself
A staple in almost any interview setting, this broad question is a classic icebreaker that can help you shake out pre-interview jitters. You don’t need to illustrate your life story, but use the opportunity to introduce why you pursued medicine, what pulled you to your chosen specialty, and who you are as a person outside of your medical degree.
2. Why Should We Choose You?
Remember: being invited for an interview means the program has already decided you’re qualified—so you don’t need to hyper-focus on your technical abilities alone. Program directors want to understand how you’ll fit into the existing team and navigate this high-stress role. Emphasize traits such as your teachability, understanding of your own limitations, communication and collaboration abilities, decision-making processes, skill in patient care, and strengths as a colleague.
3. Why Did You Choose Us?
Your interviewer wants to ensure that its residency program is the right match for you, too. Be specific about what aspects of the program brought you here—whether it’s the size, research or academic opportunities, staff mentorship, and any other details that make this residency particularly ideal. Address the program location as well, including any personal connection to the area or why this part of Connecticut benefits your personal and professional life.
4. Tell Me About [A Particular Case]
The term “particular case” is in brackets here because you could encounter several versions of this question—so it can be helpful to prep various anecdotes fundamental to your educational experience. Consider times you’ve encountered adversity, challenges, and meaningful experiences in your training, such as cases that involved:
- A complex or interesting diagnosis.
- An ethical dilemma and how you handled it.
- A difficult patient.
- Mediating conflict.
- Dealing with criticism or failure.
- A particularly rewarding patient experience.
5. What Are Your Strengths and Weaknesses?
If you didn’t have a lengthy list of strengths, you wouldn’t be where you are today. But in your residency interview, focus on a handful of core strengths you can refer to throughout questioning—and explain these strengths through demonstrative stories.
On the other hand, addressing weaknesses can be more difficult because it requires vulnerability, self-awareness, and determination for growth—which is exactly what the interviewer wants to see. Think about what habits or personality traits have previously led to setbacks, how you realized the problem, and your intention to move forward.
6. Can You Explain…
You’ll also want to prepare to discuss anything out-of-the-ordinary appearing on your transcript, resume, or elsewhere. This could include things like poor exam scores, time off, specialty inconsistencies, or potential training gaps. Don’t panic—everyone has some blemish on their application—but use the opportunity to openly illustrate what you’ve learned through adversity and how you’ve grown.
7. What Do You Do for Fun?
Recent research suggests that resident burnout rates are as high as 58 percent—and the program director wants to understand how you’ll manage a work-life balance and process stress during residency. As a bonus, talking about your hobbies and passions works to leave an impression among a string of similar applicants, prompting the interviewer to remember you as a candidate who loves photography, baking, or rock climbing.
8. Why Did You Choose This Specialty?
Be prepared to explain your choice of specialty, including what you like and dislike.
Get specific about details such as:
- What led you to this specialty, and why you decided to pursue it?
- Ambitions such as research, clinical medicine, or fellowship opportunities.
- Challenges your specialty may face in the next decade.
- How do your abilities align with the demands and challenges of this specialty?
- Examples of your work and any research experience.
9. The Odd Curveball
Program directors want to see how well you can think on your feet, so don’t get thrown off if you’re asked a residency interview question seemingly out of left field, like “How many e-mails are in your inbox” or “What animal do you most identify with.” How you reply can truly showcase your personality, confidence, and response to pressure. So don’t fret over quirky prompts, keep responses honest and light-hearted.
10. What Questions Do You Have?
Be prepared with residency interview questions of your own, too. What you ask can help confirm if the program’s the right match for you—but it also demonstrates initiative and investment. You could get more information about specific residency program details, local demographics, the interviewer’s take on the program’s strengths and weaknesses, what they like most about working there, or what recent residents have done after completing the program.
Join Our Team at PACT
As you advance your medical career, consider applying for a role with PACT. The Physicians Alliance of Connecticut (PACT) is a multi-specialty collaboration among more than 30 physician partners committed to creating opportunities, driving efficiency and innovation, and delivering quality patient care.
